WMU Board Gives Montgomery Raise; Raises Apartment Rents

This week's Western Michigan University Board of Trustee's meeting resulted in a raise for University president Edward Montgomery and in a separate action, the board voted to raise rents for "on-campus apartments and apartment-style residential units".

The Board gave the new president a positive annual performance evaluation, adding a 2.5 percent pay raise. That brings Montgomery's salary to $461,250.

The Board listed among his first year accomplishments, razing Elmwood Apartments as a first step towards a new student center and dining facility. He also was praised for the budgeting process this year and the WMU e-sports initiative among other items.

The second item on the Board's agenda was raising rents for on-campus apartments and "residential units". The rent goes up, up to $27 per month on some units, with the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The added revenue is earmarked for maintenance and physical improvements.

For the Stadium Drive apartments, the trustees' approval means rates will increase by 3 percent. The per-bedroom rate will rise by $12; the total monthly rate is $406 under the new price structure. Furnished apartments are available at an additional cost.

Monthly rates at Western View, currently the newest apartment-style complex on campus, will increase 3.5 percent. One-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units now range from $498 to $791 per person. The new rates amount to a $17 to $27 per-month increase, depending on the unit chosen. Extra amenities, such as furnished units or expanded floor plans, are available for an additional charge.

There will be no increases to monthly rates for Goldsworth Valley apartments in 2019-20. Rates for a two-bedroom unit will remain at $394 per-bedroom, and a one-bedroom unit will run $683. - WMU

The university says its residences are at 98% rented capacity. In the same release, the school says "the University plans to build new apartment-style housing in the South Residential Neighborhood. Designed to support student success, recruitment and retention, the project is targeted for completion in time for the 2020-21 academic year. The new housing will offer a variety of options at an array of price points."